HISTORY

The Missouri Foundation for Health was created in 2000 following Blue Cross Blue Shield of Missouri's (BCBSMo) conversion from nonprofit to for-profit status. Today, MFH is the largest health care foundation in the state and is among the largest of its kind in the country.

CHARGE

MFH is charged to:

• Identify and fill the gaps in the myriad public and private health care services already available to the uninsured and underinsured in its region.
• Identify and address unmet health care needs in the underserved populations of the region.
• Identify and fund health care program opportunities in the region in order to maximize the limited resources of the Foundation for the greatest possible effect.

The Missouri Foundation for Health does not create programs, but rather it helps develop and fund programs through grants to eligible organizations in the region. The Foundation’s priorities encompass activities in both the prevention and treatment of disease and disability.

CORE VALUES

Foundation programs and grants support activities that aim to achieve objectively measurable improvements in the health of Missouri’s citizens, particularly the health of underserved, uninsured and underinsured populations.

• Foundation programs and grants supplement but do not supplant the activities of established governmental and non-governmental health care programs.
• Health care program initiatives are designed with the flexibility to incorporate ongoing community input and collaboration in their definition and implementation. The flexibility permits small grants as well as larger, longer-term grants; and permits funding of existing and new community programs.
• The Foundation incorporates population-based vital statistics and other health indicators relevant to local communities into its strategic decision-making and funding priorities.

• The Foundation seeks opportunities to collaborate with other foundations as well as public and private organizations in the pursuit of its health care related purposes and goals.
• The Foundation follows the best practices of foundation management, including but not limited to periodic board self-assessment, education of Board members, annual financial audits, and full conflict of interest disclosure.
• The Foundation from time to time establishes multi-year health care program initiatives based on a systematic strategic planning process.